THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE BILL

INTRODUCED BY MUSTIO, HARHART, KOTIK, BARRAR, EVERETT, GEIST, GRELL, HICKERNELL, KORTZ, KRIEGER, MAJOR, MARSHALL, MILLER, REICHLEY, SCAVELLO, STERN AND WATSON, MARCH 14, 2011

REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON PROFESSIONAL LICENSURE, MARCH 14, 2011  

AN ACT

Amending the act of May 23, 1945 (P.L.913, No.367), entitled, as

amended, "An act relating to and regulating the practice of

the profession of engineering, including civil engineering,

mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, mining

engineering and chemical engineering, the profession of land

surveying and the profession of geology and constituent parts

and combinations thereof as herein defined; providing for the

licensing and registration of persons practicing said

profession, and the certification of engineers-in-training

and surveyors-in-training, and the suspension and revocation

of said licenses, registrations and certifications for

violation of this act; prescribing the powers and duties of

the State Registration Board for Professional Engineers, Land

Surveyors and Geologists, the Department of State and the

courts; prescribing penalties; and repealing existing laws,"

further providing for continuing professional competency

requirements.

The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

hereby enacts as follows:

Section 1.  Section 4.5(b) and (g) of the act of May 23, 1945

(P.L.913, No.367), known as the Engineer, Land Surveyor and

Geologist Registration Law, amended May 12, 2010 (P.L.192,

No.25), are amended to read:

Section 4.5.  Continuing Professional Competency

Requirements.--* * *

(b)  [Each] Except as otherwise provided under subsection

(g), each licensee shall be required to meet the continuing

professional competency requirements of this section as a

condition for licensure renewal. Continuing professional

competency obtained by a licensee should maintain, improve or

expand skills and knowledge obtained prior to initial licensure,

including law and ethics applicable to the profession, or

develop new and relevant skills and knowledge. No credit shall

be given for a course in practice building or office management.

* * *

(g)  (1)  A licensee may [be exempt] request exemption from

the requirements of this section for any of the following

reasons and to the extent specified in this subsection:

(i)  A licensee serving on temporary active duty in the armed

forces of the United States for a period of time exceeding one

hundred twenty consecutive days in a year shall be exempt from

obtaining the professional development hours required during

that year.

(ii)  A licensee experiencing physical disability, illness or

other extenuating circumstances as reviewed and approved by the

board may be exempt. Supporting documentation must be furnished

to the board.

(iii)  A licensee who lists his occupation as retired on the

board-approved renewal form and certifies to the board that he

no longer receives any remuneration for the practice of

engineering shall be exempt from the requirement set forth in

subsection (a). If the licensee intends to return to the

practice of engineering, then the licensee must complete the

number of professional development hours required for each year

exempted, not to exceed the annual requirement for two years.

(2)  An individual applying for initial licensure and

registration shall be exempt from the requirement set forth in

subsection (a) for the licensure period immediately following

initial licensure and registration.

* * *

Section 2.  This act shall take effect in 60 days.